Bhaktavijaya: Stories of Indian Saints
by Justin E. Abbott | 1933 | 306,590 words
This is the English translation of Bhaktavijaya which is a Marathi poem written by Mahipati in 40,000 lines. The text documents the legends of Indian saints from various backgrounds and extensively covers figures like Ekanath, Tukaram, and Ramadasa, highlighting their contributions to scholarship, philosophy, poetry, and social reform. The Bhaktavi...
51.1: Mahipati鈥檚 prayer to God
1. Victory, victory to Thee, O Hrishikeshi (Lord of the heart). Merciful to the lowly. Dweller in the hearts of Thy loving bhaktas. Husband of Rukmini, the Lord of Pandhari, the Prime Cause of all, and the Guru of the world.
2. Victory, victory to Thee, whose lila (voluntary deeds) are those of an actor in a play, Holder of the strings of the universe, Store of good qualities, the Lord of the Yadavas. Thinking in her heart of Thy feet, the daughter of the ocean (Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth) has become Thy suppliant.
3. O Knower of the heart, Pervader of the moveable and the immoveable, Primal Form of the universe, possessing form but without the three qualities, Giver of the promise to Pundalik, the supreme Lord! Victory to the Indestructible, Who exists as Atmarupa (in the form of the soul)!
4. Victory to Thee, O Ocean of mercy, Lord of Vaikunth [Vaikuntha], O Thou of immense form, who didst appear as Vaman [Vamana] (the dwarf) and as ParashuRam [Rama] (holder of the axe). Thou didst remove from the earth the Kshatriyas (the warrior caste) and didst establish the Brahmans.
5. Victory to Thee, Destroyer of the demons, Founder of religion, Lord of the worlds. Father of Brahmadev [Brahmadeva], Relative and Friend of Thy loving bhaktas, for aside from Thee they have no one else.
6. Should I attempt to praise Thee by my own mouth, my intellect has not sufficient inspiration. If I should think of worshipping Thee with love, I have not the means.
7. Should I think of visiting the sacred places in repentance, my
body has lost its strength. Should I think of giving to deserving persons, I lack money.
8. If I should think of practising religious rites, my life becomes uneasy through hunger. If I think of bowing down to all beings, their good and bad qualities arise in my mind.
9. O Shripati, if I wish to study the Shastras, my life is not in my power. If out of repentance I think of giving up worldly affairs, vairagya (the ascetic spirit) does not possess my mind.
10. If I think of meditating on Thee all alone, my reason cannot control my fickle mind, and instead of thinking of Thy form it wanders everywhere.
11. If I wish to restrain my senses, my tongue is not in my control. So am I environed by bad qualities. Thou knowest this secret of my heart. 1?. Therefore, O Husband of Rukmini, I pray to Thee. As Thou lovest Thy bhaktas, grant me Thy loving inspiration to describe the fame of their good qualities.
13. With body, speech and mind I ask for the gift of this favour only. Aside from this I have no other wish. Therefore fulfil my desire.